However, there are medical conditions and special circumstances where compression socks are worn for over 24 hours. Many long haul flights can call for 24 hours of travel, in which we recommend wearing compression socks the whole time since long haul flights have been known to contribute to blood clots.

You can safely wear flight socks (compression stockings) for the entire duration of your flight, plus a few hours before and after travel. In 2026, medical guidelines suggest putting them on about an hour before boarding to allow your circulatory system to adjust and keeping them on until you have reached your final destination and had a chance to walk around. For ultra-long-haul flights, which can last over 15 hours, it is perfectly safe to wear them the whole time, provided they are the correct size and pressure (usually Class 1, 15-21 mmHg). You should only remove them if you experience numbness, tingling, or a change in skin color, which indicates the socks are too tight and restricting arterial flow. While they are designed for "active" wear during travel to prevent Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT), you should not wear them overnight while sleeping in a horizontal position unless specifically directed by a doctor, as the pressure is designed to work against gravity while sitting or standing.